About G. Clinton Kelley
Professional Experience
G. Clinton Kelley is a sole practitioner with over 34 years of experience. He began practicing law in 1988 and started his own law firm in 1991. He concentrates his law practice in the area of personal injury law, including motor vehicle accidents and slip / trip / fall cases.
Over the years Attorney Kelley has recognized that getting injured changes everything for people. For one thing, it can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. A lot of questions need to be answered, for example:
- Do I have a case?
- Can I settle my case on my own, or do I need a lawyer?
- I never had to hire a lawyer before, what do I do?
- How much does it cost to hire a lawyer?
- How much is my case worth?
- How long will it take to get my case finished?
- Who is going to pay my medical bills?
- How can I support myself and my family if I can't work?
Attorney Kelley is an active trial lawyer and certified mediator, and has experience in negotiating out of court settlements, and representing clients in Court when their cases cannot be settled. He works to fully develop each client's case in order to maximize its settlement value and, if possible, avoid having to file suit in the first place. Negotiating an out-of-court settlement with an insurance adjuster is often an advantageous way to resolve a client's personal injury case. Mr. Kelley is directly involved in the investigation of each client's case from the moment each case file is opened in the office. This direct involvement helps to assure that all of the relevant evidence is gathered to support his clients' cases, including but not limited to:
- accident and incident reports;
- accident photographs;
- damage photographs;
- witness statements;
- insurance forms;
- medical records;
- medical bills;
- lost wage information; and
- any subrogation liens
As a personal injury trial lawyer, he helps clients when their cases cannot be settled and instead, need to be decided in Court:
- He represents accident victims in trials, arbitrations, hearings, and mediations in an effort to get his clients fair compensation of their injuries and damages.
- He also represents accident victims in settlement negotiations with insurance adjusters and insurance defense attorneys "on the courthouse steps" in order to help his clients to get fair compensation for their injuries and damages while avoiding the risk, uncertainty, and expenses involved with trial.
- Before cases go to trial or reach a negotiated settlement, he conducts discovery, takes depositions, and represents his clients at their depositions to make sure their voice is heard and that their evidence proving their case is demonstrated to the other side's insurance company.
- When suit is being filed and litigation is starting, Attorney Kelley drafts pleadings, briefs and motions, and argues various types of motions and Preliminary Objections in Court for accident victims on their cases.
By concentrating his law practice in certain areas of personal injury law, Mr. Kelley has been able to develop in-office procedures to deliver legal assistance to his clients consistently and efficiently, and when they need him the most, (i.e. when they are injured, unable to work, and unable to support themselves and their families because of their injuries). Given his experience, Mr. Kelley is frequently asked to teach continuing legal education classes to other attorneys on topics related to the in-office procedures that he has developed to assist car accident and slip/trip / fall victims with their insurance claims and personal injury cases.
Early in his legal career, Attorney Kelley gained valuable trial experience handling criminal defense cases and trying many of those cases to verdict. During that same time, as a U.S. Army JAG Reserve Officer, he also prosecuted Army Reservists at personnel elimination board proceedings for violating the U.S. Army drug policy.
Clint is laser-focused on putting his clients first, and delivering legal services with kindness, compassion and integrity to help get the best possible outcome on the cases that he handles.
Admissions, Honors & Memberships
- Admitted to Practice in all Common Pleas and Appellate Courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1988
- Admitted to Practice in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the U.S. Tax Court
- Certified mediator, arbitrator, and early neutral evaluator
- Elected Member, American Board of Trial Advocates
- Named to the National Trial Lawyers Association - Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania
- Member, American Association for Justice, ("AAJ")
- Member, AAJ Sole Practitioner & Small Firm Section
- Member, AAJ Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway & Premises Liability Section
- Member, Pennsylvania Association for Justice ("PAJ")
- Member, PAJ Board of Governors
- Member, PAJ Legislative Policy Committee
- Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association ("WPaTLA")
- Elected Member, WPaTLA Board of Governors
- Member, Allegheny County Bar Association ("ACBA")
- Member, ACBA Sole and Small Firm Practitioners Section
- Honorable Discharge, U.S. Army Reserve, JAG Corps
- Recipient, U.S. Army Commendation Medal for deactivating Military Law Center and supporting JAG Detachments following Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm
Seminars, Publications, & Community Involvement
- One Small Step For Neil Armstrong, One Giant Step For The Plaintiff's Bar, CAPE Education, 2022
- Have A Nice Trip, See You Next Fall: Sometimes You Just Have To Go To Trial, CAPE Education, 2022
- Lawyering Through The Pandemic & Required COVID Vaccinations, Washington & Jefferson College Homecoming Legal Lecture, 2021
- Sometimes You Just Have To Go To Trial - Understanding Why And Preparing For It, CAPE Education, 2019
- A Look Back At Hollywood's "The Rainmaker" And "Erin Brockovich" - Lessons For Today's Solo And Small Firm Practitioner, CAPE Education, 2018
- Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse, CAPE Education, 2018
- A Look Back At Hollywood's "The Rainmaker" And "Erin Brockovich" : Lessons For Today's Solo And Small Firm Practitioner, CAPE Education, 2017
- Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse - Awareness on Elder Care, CAPE Education, 2016
- Lessons For Today's Solo & Small Firm PI Lawyers From Hollywood's "The Verdict", CAPE Education, 2015
- A Look Back At "The Verdict" & "A Civil Action" - Lessons for Today's Solo & Small Firm PI Lawyers, CAPE Education, 2015
- Awareness On Elder Care - Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse, CAPE Education, 2015
- Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse - Awareness on Elder Care, CAPE Education, 2013
- Falling Water / Rising Water - Dealing With The Runoff From The Claims, CAPE Education, 2013
- Not A Hollywood Script - Real Life Plaintiff's Practices, CAPE Education, 2012
- The Snow Has Finally Melted - Dealing With The Runoff From The Claims, CAPE Education, 2010
- Issues Of Professional Liability In The Real Estate Industry, CAPE Education, 2010
- Navigating Legal Malpractice - Shhh! It Happens, CAPE Education, 2009
- The Triple Crown Of Bad Times, CAPE Education, 2009
- Bad Times - When It Rains It Pours, CAPE Education, 2009
- Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied, CAPE Education, 2008
- Health Care Providers Face Jail Time and Civil Liability For Identity Theft, 2008
- "The Sky Is Falling" - Chicken Little Speaks Out On Identity Theft, 2008
- Take Time Now Or Do Time Later: The Legal Ramifications of Identity Theft, CAPE Education, 2008
- Take Time Now or Do Time Later - Impact of Identity Theft on Your Client's Bottom Line, CAPE Education, 2007
- Are Your Clients Concerned About the Legal Ramifications of Identity Theft?, CAPE Education, 2006
- Shaken, Not Stirred - New Changes To The Pennsylvania DUI Law, CAPE Education, 2006
- Banana Appeals - The Anatomy of a Slip and Fall Case, CAPE Education, 2005
- Party Time - DUI Defense and Traffic Court Litigation, CAPE Education, 2005
- Sole Survivor - Toughing It Out As A Sole Practitioner Against Big Insurance Companies, CAPE Education, 2004
- Dealing With Social Security Claims - The Basics and Beyond, CAPE Education, 2003
- DUI - Friends Don't Let Friends Plead Guilty, CAPE Education, 2002
- Litigation Strategies, New Approaches For A New Millennium, CAPE Education, 2001
- Over the years, Clint has been extremely active in the Pittsburgh area. He has frequently taken various leadership roles in Allegheny County political organizations, South Hills area youth development organizations, and Mount Lebanon youth sports leagues.
Education
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Juris Doctorate, 1988
- Witness, Mock Trial Team
- Finalist, Mock Trial Tournament
- Dunmore Moot Court Competition
- Client Counseling Competition
Washington & Jefferson College
Bachelor of Arts, English 1985
- US Army ROTC Scholarship
- Dean's List Scholar
- National Honorary Fraternity - Debate Member
- Traveling Debate Team
- Zeta Beta Tau National Fraternity
Sewickley Academy
High School Diploma, 1981
- College preparatory curriculum
- Allegheny County Forensics Tournament, First Place
- Varsity Golf Team
- Student Theater